Carton filling and sealing machine.



gig/mama I I F. B. MARTIN.

CARTON FILLING AND SEALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.I9. I9I4. 1,198,740. Patentedsept. 19,1916.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 1-.

F. B. 1111111111. EARI'ON FILLING AND SEALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED .DEC. 19. I914. 1 ,1 98,740. Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

9 SHEETSSHEET 2 1 11/1/11! /I //I II III/l F. B. MARTIN.

CARTON FILLING AND SEALING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 050.19.191k.

Patented Sept 19, 1916.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 3- W wd F. B. MARTIN. v CARTON FILLING AND SEALINGMACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 19. I914. v Q 1,1 98,740. i Patented Sept.19,1916.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 4.-

F. B. MARTIN. CARTON FILLING AND SEALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC- I9 1914.

Patented Sept. 19, 1916,

9 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

F. B. MARTIN.

CARTON FILLING AND SEALING MACHINE.

I APPLICATION FILE!) DEC. I9. I9I4- 1 ,1 98,740. IatentedSept. 19, 1916.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

903 I I /Ofl7//m m @W ML F. B. MARTIN. 'CARTON FILLING AND SEALINGMACHINE.

APPLICATION man 050.19. 191 1.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Sept; 19, 1916.

3M 4%m:; m. "as e. I v/ luwemwm MQfl/M F. B. MARTIN.

CARTON FILLING AND SEALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 19. I914.

Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

9 SHEETS$HEET 8.

mmflioz 1 I a @uMu We/mama Mi B. MARTlN.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK B. MARTIN, OF BATTLE OREEK,-MICHI GAN, ASSIGNOR TO POSTUM CEREAL00.,

moment.

LTD., OF BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, A PARTNERSHIP ASSOCIATION, LIMITED, OF

CARTON FILLING AND SEALING MACHINE.

v Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept/19, 1216.

Application filed December 19, 1914. Serial No. 878,083.

chines, which invention is fully. set forth in the followingspecification.

This invention relates to carton filling and sealing machines, and moreparticularly to. machines designed to effect these functions withcartons provided with a lining in the shape of a paper bag or othersuitable form.' In machines of this class as heretofore con structed, asuitable paperlining, such, for example, as a paper bag, has beeninserted within the carton, and after the same has been filled with thematerial, the paper bag or other lining has been folded down by handinto a proper position to enable a carton-sealing mechanism to eflectthe closure of the carton by gluing the top flaps thereof. E

The present invention has for its object to provide means whereby all ofthe operations, from the filling to the sealing of the cartons, shall beperformed mechanically.

With this object in view, the invention, generally stated, consists inproviding a suitable carrier or other advancing means to carry thecartons with the bags therein past the cartonfilling mechanism, by whichthey are filled with the material, and-then past suitable mechanism formechanically folding in the upwardly projecting portions of the bag orpaper lining, and from thence to the carton-sealing mechanism, vwherebythe glue is applied to the flaps 'of the cartons, and

they are folded over and effectually sealed.

The bag or other paper lining must be.

folded approximately on a level with the top of the carton, in orderthat the carton flaps may be readily turned into position to eifect thesealing operation, and when the.

Furthermore, according to the present in vention, means are provided, inconnection with the bag-folding mechanism, for openmg out the side flapsof the cartons, so that the same shall not interfere with the bagfoldingoperation, and for retaining these flaps in their open position for theapplication of glue by the sealing mechanism. The

bag-folding mechanism is so combined with the sealing mechanism that themeans which are employed for folding down the end flaps of the cartonsin the sealing operation also perform a part of the bag-folding steps.

Any suitable or well-known form of carton-filling 'mechanism may beemployed, and likewise any suitable or' well-known form ofcarton-sealing mechanism may be used, since the present invention doesnot reside in the specific or particular forms of that the cartons arefed in a straight line Dast the several sets of mechanisms, but, ifdesired, the bag-folding mechanism may be, and sometimes is, placed toone side of the carton-filling and carton-sealing mecha-' nisms, and thecartons shifted "from the direct line past these mechanisms into achannel passing by the bag-folding mechanism, and when the foldingoperation is com pleted, is again shifted into the straight linechannel, and directed past the sealing devices. v The inventive ideainvolved is capable of receiving avariety of mechanical expressions,some of which, for the sake of illustrating the invention, are shown inthe accompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that such drawingsare' for the-purpose of illustrating the inventiononly, an are notdesigned to define the limits thereof reference being had to the claimsfor this purpose,

In the drawingsFigures 1 and 1, taken together, show a. side elevationof the machine, and Figs. 2 and 2" show a side elevation of the oppositeside from that shown in Figs. 1 and 1;'Figs. 3 and 3 together constitutea topplan view of the bag-folding mechanism, showing, in Fig.

broken elevational detail illustrating the means for opening the sideflaps of the cartons in advance of the bag-folding operation; Fig. 6 isa perspective detail illustrating the means for shifting the cartonsfrom the feeding belt into the bag-folding mechanism, as shown in Fig.3; Fig. 7 is a like perspective detail of the means for compressingmaterial in the cartons; Fig. 8 is a perspective detail of the. meansfor straighteiiing up the sides of the cartons to prevent bulging; Fig.9 is a perspective view of the top of the carton showing the side flapsopen, the sides of the bag or lining folded in, and the end flaps of thecarton and the end portions of the bag top in the position which theyoccupy just prior to the action of the end-flap-folding mechanism; Fig.10 is a side elevation, and Fig. 11 is a plan view of the entiremachine, including the carton-filling, the bag-folding and thecarton-sealing devices, arranged so as to advance the cartonstherethrough in 'a straight line.

The machine as a whole is illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11, and consistsof devices A,

for filling the cartons, mechanism B for; compressing the materialwithin the cartons, bag-folding devices C, and carton-sealing mechanismD, combined with a suitable conveyer or conveyers for feeding thecartons past the several sets of mechanism. As indicated above. thecompressing devices and the bag-folding mechanism may be arranged in astraight line with the cartonfilling mechanism and the carton-sealingmechanism, as is shown in Figs. 10 and 11. in which case a singleconveyer is employed for advancing the cartons past the several sets ofmechanism and devices. tion is equally applicable, however, to aconstruction in which the several sets of mechanism are not arranged ina straight line, and in which the carton-filling mechanism is out ofline or'to one side of the compressing mechanism and the foldingdevices, which latter in turn are out of line with the carton-sealingmechanism. This is an arrangement which lends itself to certainconditions of floor space, and is desirable under certain other factoryconditions. and in this case one conveyer may be employed to advance thecartons past the filling mechanism, after which the cartons areautomatically shifted to a conveyer which ad- The invenvances themthrough the compressing and bag-folding mechanism, and after passingthis mechanism they may be shifted thence to a conveyer which advancesthem past the sealing mechanism.

In their general features, the carton-filling and carton-sealingmechanisms may be of the usual or any suitable construction, andtherefore need not be specifically described, and are only generallyillustrated ing a sprocket wheel 4, keyed to a horizontal shaft 5mounted in suitable bearings'in the framework. On the shaft 5 is a bevelgear 6 meshing with a bevel gear 7 on a countershaft 8, arranged insuitable bearings at one side of the machine, as clearly shown in Figs.2 and 4. A bevel gear 9 on the counter-shaft 8 meshes with a like bevelgear 10 on a transverse shaft 11. Intermediate its ends this shaft 11has keyed thereto a bevel gear 12 meshing with a bevel gear 13 on alongitudinally extending shaft 14, having bearings in suitablecross-bars arranged on the framework of the machine, and at its extremeleft-hand end in Fig. 4, this shaft 14 has a bevel gear 15 keyedthereto, and meshing with a bevel gear 16 on a transverse shaft 18, alsohaving bearings in the framework. At the extreme lefthand end of Fig. 4is shown a transverse shaft 19 having thereon a sprocket wheel'20, overwhich passes sprocket chain 21, which at its other end passes around asprocket wheel 22 (Fig. 1) secured to the shaft 5. Sprocket chain 21 hassecured thereto suitable carton followers 23 for advancing the cartonsalong a suitable track or way composed of two rails or bars 24, 24:,shown in Figs. 3 and 3 Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, the filled cartons 25are advanced fromthe carton-filling mechanism on a carrier belt 26between guide rails 27, 27, and as they advance, the front cartonengagesa stop 28 (Figs. 3 and 6), a guide-plate or rod 29 (Fig. 3) beingmounted on one of the guide rails 27 to insure that the cartons shall beadvanced somewhat snugly against thevother guide rail, in a position tobe engaged by the stop, as will be readily understood from an inspectionof Fig. 3. The cartons are freed one at a time rail 33, until it abutsagainst a second stop in the form of a bar 34 extending above and acrossthe belt 26. The carton is then shifted laterally from the belt 26 ontothe two guide rails 24, 24, and in front of the followers 23, by meansof a rotary shifting device in the form of a plate secured by two links36, 3G, to two crank arms 37 37', re-

volved by two shafts 38, 38. The movements of the rocking arm 30 and ofthe shifting plate 35 are so timed that one carton at a time is shiftedfrom the conveyer belt 26 onto the conveyer track 24, 24, just inadvance of the conveyer followers 23 on the conveyer chain 21. I

The rock shaft 31 and the revolving shafts 38, 38', are operated asfollows: Referring to Figs. 3, 4 and 6, the transverse shaft 18 isconnected by bevel gearing, shown in Fig. 4,

to the shaft 38, on which is a gear 39 mesh-' ing with an intermediategear 40, which in turn meshes with gear' 41 on shaft 38', saidintermediate gear 40 being keyed to a stub shaft 42. The rock shaft 31is connected. to shaft 30 by means of an eccentric link 43 pivotallyconnected to an arm 44 keyed to the shaft 31. The result of theseconnections is that the two shafts 38, 38' have one revolution impartedto them for each complete rocking movement forwardand back of the rockshaft 31, and-the rock arm 30 is so positioned on the rock shaft 31 asto cause it to free a carton from the stop 28 at the proper time topermit said carton to advance immediately after the shifting plate 35has shifted a carton out of engagement with the stop 34, and onto theconveyer tracks 24, 24. j

The carton having been shifted in front of the followers 23, is thenadvanced by said followers past the compressing mechanism,

which acts, in case the material is'piled up too high within the carton,to compress it reciprocate vertically, said frame consisting of the twoside bars 52, 53, connected by end bars 54, The end bar hasalongitudinal slot 56 formed therein, and a vertical post 57 is adjustably mounted in said slot by means of the bolt 58 extendingtherethrough. Projecting from the upper end of the post 57, horizontallyover the line of the advancing cartons, is a bar 59 from which depends aplunger 60, preferably tapered at its lower portion, as clearly shown inFig. 7. 'l1en the horizontal frame is reciprocated, it moves thevertical frame horizontally back and forth, and as the vertical frame iscarried by the horizontal frame and reciprocated up and down, it resultsthat the planger (30 has a movement imparted thereto which is theresultant of the movements of the two frames; that is, it has, first, adownward and backward movement, and then an upward and forward movement.

For the purpose of imparting movement to the horizontal frame, the shaft18, which is driven from the shaft 14 through the itsoutwardlyprojecting end a disk 61, provided with a'pin (32, between theend bar 48 of the frame and a companion bar 63 (see Fig. 7), the pin 62being .eccentrically placed upon the disk 61. By reason of the pin 62being engaged between the vertical bars 48 and63, horizontal movementsback and forth are imparted to the horizontal having a bevel gear 65 onits inner end meshing with a bevel gear 66 keyedto the shaft 14, andhaving on its outer end a disk 67 provided'with an eccentrically placedpin '68, engaging between. two horizontal parallel bars 69 and 70extending across the frame. The movements of the plunger 60 are so timedas to cause the plunger to enter the open mouth of the carton, andco1npress the same therein on each downward stroke of the plunger, andby reason of the adjustable mounting of the plunger, this exact timingof the plungers movements, so as to cause it to enter the carton at theproper instant, is secured. The downward stroke of the plunger is sofixed as to cause it to compress the material within the carton to thelevel of, or just below the level of, the scoring on the carton at thetop of its walls Where the flaps jointhe carton, so that the latter aswell as the paper-bag or lining, can be readily folded over the contentswithout interference therefrom. This downward compressing action of theplunger would have a'tendency, in some cases, to cause the cartons tobulge at the sides, if means were not provided to prevent such bulgmgaction. This bulging would result in teal-mg the flaps where the endportions of the flaps.

join the carton walls along the scored lines, A

and thus effectually destroying the package. This bulgingaction isprevented by the following means: As the plunger enters the carton, thelatter is advanced by the followers 23 between a fixed guide rail 71 anda vertically disposed rocking rail 72 (see Figs. 3 and 3), and means areprovided for forcing the hinged or rocking guide rail 72 firmly againstthe side of the carton, just as the plunger enters therein, and forholding it there during the downward stroke of the plunger. This hingedguide rail is illustrated in detail in Fig. 8, the rail being shown asfirmly secured to two uprights 73,

73, hinged to the framework of the finachine as at 74. Extending betweenthe up-' rights 73 and 73' is a cross-bar 75, to which is pivotallyconnected a horizontally extending arm 76, which is rigidlycdnnected toa vertical, downwardly extending arm 77, a suitable post 78, with aguide slot formed therein, being preferably employed to guide the-movements of the arm 77. The two arms 77 and 76 in effect constitute asingle rigid piece, and means are provided for rocking the two uprights73, 73', and with them the guide rail 72, on the hinges 74,

against the tension of a spring 79. Any suitable means may be employedfor this purpose, and as here shown, they consist of a cam 80 (see Fig.3) mounted on the shaft 8, said eccentric being also clearly shown inFig. 4. As the plunger descends, the eccentric 80 forces the rail 72against the side of the carton, so as to hold it with moderate firmnessbetween saidrail 72 and the guide rail 71, and yet without graspingit'so firmly as to interfere with its free forward movement, As theplunger starts on its upward movement, the cam releases the guide rail72, and the same is thenthrown outward away from the carton by theaction of the spring 79. v

While the plunger is performing its functions, the side aznd end flapsof the carton are projecting'upward above the top of the carton, as isalso the top portion. of the bag or liner, which top portion of the bagor liner must be folded in such position as to lie within the cartonflaps when'the same are folded and sealed. As the carton is advanced,.the side flaps thereof are opened or foldedoutward and downward, bymeans which will'now be described.

Referring to Figs. 1, 3 and 5, '81, 81' arebracket arms extendingoutward from the frame of the machine above the line of travel of thecartons, and supporting a frame composed of two transverse bars 82, 82,suitably spaced as by spacing blocks '83, and united by bolts 84.Turning in bearings in said frame are two shafts'85, 80, provided withbevel gears 87, 88, on'thelr upper ends, meshing respectively with bevelgears 89 and 90 on shaft 91, turning in hearings in the bracket arms 81,81', which shaft is geared to a vertical shaft 92 through bevel gears 93and 94. The shaft 92 turns in hearings in the side of the frame of themachine, and at its lower endis connected to the shaft 8 by bevel caring95 (Fi 4). Shafts 85 and 86 have eyed to their fower ends two sleeves 96and 97, from which pro ject radial arms 98 and 99,'and from these armsdepend two vertical rods 100 and 101, whose lower portions 100 and 101'extend horizontally or at right angles to the 'vertitimed that in theirinward motion toward each 'other, they first strike the forward end flapof the carton, bending it slightly downward and entering between theside flaps 25' of the'carton, as shown in Fig. '5, and open themoutward, and continue to hold them open in this outward direction untilthey pass under downwardly curved rods 102, placed on either side of thepath of the car-' ton, which rods 102'act to turn the sideflapsdownapproximately parallel with the side walls of the carton, and thecarton is thus advanced with its side flaps turned down out of the waybetween the-means rovided for folding in the-side ortions o the bag orlining; These bagolding devices consist of two plates 103 and 104arranged to reciprocate horizontally across the top of'the carton andfrom op osite sides, and one slightly in advance of the other. Theconstruction of these folding devices is best shown in Figs. 1, 2" and3;

Projecting outwardly from the sides of the frame-work of the machine arebizi ckets' 105,- on which are secured two hori ontal, longitudinallyextending bars 106, 106. Projecting upwardly from these bars are posts107 carrying longitudinally extending guide rods 108, 109. Mounted toreciprocate on andbe ided by these gulde rods isa plate 110 having onits-under side bearings or eyes 111' (Fig. 1), which embrace the rods109, leaving the plates 110 free to be reciprocated on said rods. Formedon the upper portion ofthe plate 110 are bearings or eyes 112 (Fig. 3),in which a frame is mounted to reciprocate transversely of the posed oftwo side bars 113, 113, connected at.

their ends by end bars 114, and the side bars 113 are mounted in theeyes or bearings 112 so as to reciprocate freely therein. It will thusbe seen that the two frames 113-114 are mounted to reciprocate at rightangles to the bars 109, and in mountings (the plates 110) whichreciprocate longitudinally of said bars.

For the purpose of imparting to the parts the reciprocating movementsreferred to, two disks 115, 115', are mounted on opposite sides of themachine, one slightly in advance of the other, said disks being keyed tovertical shafts 116, 116. Each of these disks has an eccentric wrist-pin117, 117, respec-.

tively, and links 118, 118', connecting said wrist-pins with pivot pins119, 119' on the respective plates 110. The 'links 118, 118' havevlongitudinal slots 120, 120 formed therein, through which slots passstationary fulcrum pins 121, 121, projecting upward from one of the bars105 on the machine, so that as the eccentric disks revolve, they notonly impart a to-and-fro movement to the links 118, 118, but also imparta rocking movement to said links on their respective pivot pins. Theto-and-fro movements reciprocate the plates 110 on the rods 109, and therocking movements of the links reciprocate the frames 113114 on theplates 110. Disk 115 is revolved directly from the shaft 8, throughbevel gear 122 (Fig. 4), meshing with gear 123 on shaft 116, and thedisk 115 is revolved by the shaft 11 through bevel gears 124 and 125 onthe shaft 116. a

Mounted on the inner ends of each of the frames 113-114 are two verticalrods 126, 127 (Fig. 1 which rods are preferably connected to the innerend bars of the frames by means of short horizontally extending pivotedlinks 128, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. By thus mounting these barson pivotal links, the position of the vertical rods 126, 127, withrelation to the frame, may be adjusted fore and aft of the machine, fora purpose which will hereinafter appear. Firmly secured to the upperends of the rods 126 and 127 are the bagfolding plates 104 Ipreviouslyreferred to.

The side flaps o the cartons having been openccl by the revolvingside-fiap-openers I01101', and turned downward by the rods 102, the bagor lining within the carton has its upper end on the side portionsthereof exposed, and as the cartons pass the plates 103, 104, saidplates are given a quick inward movement across the top of each carton,one operating an instant before the other, owing to the fact that one ofthe reciprocating plates 103, 104 is placed slightly in advance of theother. Thisacts to fold.

the side portionsof the ba downward into the position indicated in Fig.9, leaving the end portions thereof projecting upward approximately inthe shape indicated in said figure. The parts are so timed as to havethis inward thrust of the two lates occur at the proper instant, andtheplvoted links 128 carrying the rods 126, 127, which support theplates 103, 104, assist in the accurateplacing of the plates, so thatthey will act at the proper instant. The side portions of the bag orlining having been folded in, the carton is then advanced to aportion ofthe mechanism which performs the first step of the sealing operation,and at the same time folds inward the end' portions of the bag orlining. This first step of the sealing operation consists in turningdownward and inward the end flaps 129,

v129' of the carton, and as these end flaps .129, 129' are turned inwardin the first step by any suitable end-flap-folding device, one

'form of which will now be described.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, 132 is a horizontal shaft mountedtransversely of the machine in suitable bearings on the frame thereof,and provided with radial arms 133, here shown as four in number, whicharms are provided with tucker plates 134 on their outward ends which, asthe shaft 132 is revolved by a quick turning movement, cause the tuckerplates to engage the rear face of the rear end flaps 129, and

fold them quickly inward and downward. Shaft 132 is given anintermittent turning movement. This is accomplished through a shaft 135,shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, operatively connected to shaft 132 bybevel gears 136 at its upper end, and at its lower end operativelyconnected to shaft 137 (Fig.

1) by means of bevel gears 138, best shown On the outer end of theshaft' in Fig. 2. 137 is keyed a star wheel 139 (Fig. 1),

' provided with four equally spaced radial slots 140, the outer surfaceof the star wheel 139 being provided with concave surfaces 141 formed inthe arc of a circle. 142 is a shaft mounted in bearingsin the frame andhaving on its inner end a bevel gear 143 (Fig. 4) meshing with bevelgear 144 on the shaft 14. On the outer end of the shaft 142 is acircular disk 145 having a radius the same as that of the concavesurface 141on the star wheel 139, and so positioned with relation to thestar wheel that the convex surface of the disk fits into the concavesurface of the star wheel, as will be clearly understood from aninspection of Fig. 1. Securely bolted to the outer face 'of the disk 145is a transverse bar 146, whose ends project outward beyond the cir- 147,so positioned that when. the disk revolves the pins 147 A will enter theslots 140 in the star wheel 139, imparting movement -to the star Wheelso long as the pins remain in and engage the wall of the slots, and asthe pins emerge from the slots the star wheel comes to rest. The turningaction of the star wheel 139 is permitted by reason of a V-shaped recessor cut-away 148, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1", there being two ofthese recesses, one associated with each of the pins 147. When the pins147 enter the;

slots 140 of the star wheel and start the turning action, they do sojust as the cutaway portions 148 of the disk 145 are opposite theportions of the wheel adjacent the slots 140,andas the pins 147 leavethe slots 140,;the portions of the star wheel emerge from the cut-awayor V-shaped portions of" the disk, and the convex surface of the diskenters that; concave surface 139 of the star wheel that is immediatelyopposite the disk, thereby serving to lock the star wheel, and.therefore the shaft 132 and the tucker plates 134, in position until thenext pin 147 enters a slot 140 on the star wheel, to give it its next.turning movement. This insures a quick turning movement to the end-flapfolder, and also insures its being at all times in precisely the properposition to act upon the rear end flap of the carton and fold it, aswell as the end of the ba or lining, at the proper instant. The tuckerplates 134.

in their lowermost position serve to hold the rear endflaps downwarduntil they are advanced from under the tucker plates to a position underthe plate or bar 131, which bar preferably has a medial slot formed in,

f its projecting end portion for the passage of the tucker baron itsupward movement.

The two end flapsare held in their. folded position as they pass underthe plate 131, and immediately upon emerging from under said plate theyare given a firm pressure teforce the end flaps well home in theirfolded position. This is accomplished by means of a revolving pressingor ironing partor member, shown in Fig. 1, in which 149 is a shaftmounted in suitable bearings and connected by bevel gears 150 and 151 toa, shaft 152, whose lower end is geared to shaft 11 by bevel gears 153,154. Ke ed to shaft 149 is a radial arm 155 (Fig. 1 carrying a curvedpresser plate 156. As the carton passes under the shaft 149, the curvedpresser plate 156 descends upon the folded end flap near the front endof the carton, and as the carton advances and the presser plate isrevolved, it brings pressure to bear across the top of the inturned endflaps, as will be readily understood from an inspection of Fig. 1*. Theflaps of the carton are then in the position shown in a plan view of thecarton 157 (Fig. 3 with the end flaps folded in and the side flapsfolded outward and approximately horizontal, in a position to receivethe glue for sealing the carton, which is the second step in the sealingoperation, the first step of'the sealing operation being the folding ofthe side flaps outward and the end flaps inward, as has just beendescribed. At this point the carton is advanced to the glue-applyingrolls 158 (Figs.

10 and 11), to which rolls the glue is evenly ton-sealing mechanism, asshown in Figs. 10

and-11 (as when all of the mechanisms are arranged in a right line), orin case the 'carton has been shifted out of line with the fillingmechanismonto a side follower, as illustrated in Fig..3,-the cartonafter leaving the presser plate 156 may be again shifted onto theoriginal follower 26. For this purpose the guide rails, operating inconjunction with the conveyer, are curved outward over the follower 26,as illustrated at 163 and 164 (Fig. 3), and as the carton is pushedalong by the followers 23, it follows the guiding curve of the siderails,

until its forward end is' projected above and Test/S upon the carrier26. The bottom portion of oneside of the carton is guided in thisturning movement by a bar 165 (Fig. 3*) pivoted at 166 to the frame ofthe machine, andnormally held in a position to be engaged-by the lowerforward corner of the by. a spring 167, said spring holdingthe bar .165over the slot through which the arms carrying the followers 123 pro ect.When said arms, however, contact with the bar 165 as they advance fromleft to right in Fig. 3, the bar is forced outward against the spring167, permitting the follower arms to pass, after which the springimmediately returns thebar 165 into position to assist again in guidingthe carton in its turning movement. This ac- .tion is suflicient toadvance the carton far enough over the'carrier 26 so that, by frictionalcontact, it picks up the carton and advances it until it is carried intothe straight-away portion between the rails 163 and 164 and thus onwardto the glue-apply- .ing rolls of the carton-sealing mechanism.

By means of the mechanism thus described, anempty carton may be placedin the machine, with a bag or other liner there in, or it may be placedin the machine, and the bag or liner afterward inserted therein,

after which all of the operations of filling the carton, are performedautomatically.

Moreover, if the arrangements of floor space in a factoryv are such thatit is desired to extend the machine in one long straight line throughthe factory, this may be done, or if desired, the compressing mechanism,the bag-folding devices and the machines for folding out the side flapsand folding in the end flaps may be placed to one side of the directline in which the bag-filling and the glue-applying and finalside-fiap-folding devices ar located.

I/V-hile for the purpose of giving a clear understanding of theinvention, the same has been described with considerable particularityas to details of construction and arrangement of parts, it will beapparent that these may be varied within wide limits, without departurefrom the real spirit of the invention, and I wish it to be distinctlyunderstood that the invention is not limited to such specific detailsand arrangement of parts, but that the invention is as broad as theterms of the claims hereto appended.

What is claimed is 1. In a machine of the character described, thecombination of carton-filling mecha- .nism, devices compacting the massin the cartons, devices opening the side flaps of the cartons,bag-folding mechanism, cartonsealing mechanism, and means advancing thecartons past said devices and mechanisms.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination ofcarton-filling mecha' nism, devices compressing the mass in the cartons,bag-folding mechanism, carton sealing mechanism, and means advancing thecartons past said devices and mechanisms.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of cartonfilling mechanism, devices compacting the mass in the cartons, devicesopening the side flaps of the cartons, devices-folding in the sides ofthe carton lining, and means simultaneously folding in the cartonend-flaps and the ends of the carton lining.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination of meansplacing material inlined cartons, devices compressing the material inthe cartons, devices folding in the sides of the carton lining, andmeans folding in the carton end-flaps and the ends of the carton lining.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination of cartonfilling mechanism, devices compacting the mass in the cartons, devicesopening the side flaps of the cartons, devices folding in the sides ofthe carton lining, means folding in the end flaps of the cartons and theends of the carton lining, and means advancing the cartons in a rightline past said mechanism means and devices.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination of meansadvancing the carton, devices compressing the contents ofthe carton, andmeans supporting the sides of the carton against bulging action duringsuch compression.

7. In a machine of the character dcscribed, the combination of acarton-guidmg channel having an ad1ustable side wall, means advancingthe cartons freely through said channel, devices compressing thecontents of the carton, and means automatically forcing said adjustablewall against the car- -ton during said compressive action, whereingfilled cartons through the machine, 1

tons while advancing therewith, whereby the mass is compacted in thecarton without interrupting the forward movement of the carton.

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination of meansopening the side flaps of the cartons, means folding the sides ofthe-bag-lining, means simultaneously folding in the end flaps of thecartons and the end portions of the lining, means applying an adhesiveto the opened side flaps, and means folding in the side flaps.

10. In a machine of the character described, the combination of acarton-guiding channel, and means advancing the cartons through saidchannel, with a plunger arranged above said channel, and means impartingto said plunger a rotary movement l in a vertical plane.

11. In a machine of the character described, the combination of acarton-guiding channel, means advancing lined cartons through saidchannel, and a pair of revoluble devices entering between the side flapsof the cartons and the lining thereof and opening outward the sideflaps.

12. In a machine of the character described, the combination of acarton-guiding means advancing lined cartons through said channel, meansopening the side flaps of the cartons, lining-folding devices arrangedon opposite sides of the channel, and means advancing said foldingdevices transversely across the upper portion of the carton andsimultaneously advancing said devices in the direction of the line ofmovement of the cartons, whereby the side portions of the linings arefolded inward.

14. In a machine of the character described, the combination of acarton-guiding channel, means advancing lined cartons through saidchannel, means opening the side flaps of the cartons, means retainingsaid flaps in their open position, means foldingthe side portions of thelinings while the side flaps are opened outward, and meanssimultaneously folding the end flaps of the cartons and the end portionsof the linings 15. In a machine of the character described, thecombinationof a carton-guiding channel, means advancing lined cartonsthrough said channel, means opening the side flaps of the cartons,devices retaining said flaps in their open position, lining-foldingdevices arranged on opposite sides of the channel, and means impartingto each of said folding devices a rotary movement in a horizontal planeextending over the upper portion of the carton, whereby the sideportions of the lining are folded inward.

16. In a machine of the character described, the combination of acarton-guiding channel, means advancing lined cartons through saidchannel, side-flap-opening devices, means for folding inward the sideportions of the linings of the cartons arranged on opposite sides ofsaid channel, and devices imparting to each of said folding meemo meansa reciprocating movement transverse to said channel and a reciprocatingmovement parallel with said channel.

17. In "a r machine of the character described, the combination of acarton-guiding channel, means advancing lined cartons through saidchannel, means opening the side flaps of the cartons, means foldinginward the side portions of the linings, revolving mechanism above thecartons folding in one of the end flaps, and stationary means above thecarton folding in the other end flap.

18. In a machine of the character described, the combination ofside-fiap-opening devices, means for folding the side portions of acarton lining, means for simultaneously folding the end flaps of thecartons and the end portions of the lining, and mechanism advancing thecartons past said means and devices.

- 19. In a machine of the character de scribed, the combination of meansfor opening the side flaps of the lined cartons, devices for folding inthe side portions of the carton lining, means simultaneously folding inthe end flaps of the cartons and the end portions of the lining, andrevolving means for imparting downward pressure to said folded endflapsand folded lining.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

FRANK B. MARTIN.

Witnesses:

WINOLA J. COOPER, VERN D. SUTTON.

